VICE-CHANCELLOR’S REPORT TO COUNCIL 2022—2023
OPEN CAMPUS REPORT
courses having three substantive graded assignments (one group and two individual); continuation of 100% continuous assessment in lieu of final examinations for courses offered in the 2022/2023 academic year; subsuming all teaching roles under one title, i.e., course instructor, discontinuing e-tutor and course coordinator roles, contracting markers to mark non-automated assignments and contracting teaching assistants to support course instructors where needed. Careful piloting and post-implementation engagement with students and course instructors were conducted, with feedback being taken into account at various stages of implementation in order to best meet the needs of students. While there was a period of adjustment for students who had started their programmes prior to the implementation of the revised teaching model, students adjusted quickly and no major differences were observed in student satisfaction data. Preparations for the rebranding/renaming of The UWI Open Campus to The UWI Global Campus In November 2022, University Council approved the decision to rebrand The UWI Open Campus to The UWI Global Campus, effective August 01, 2023. This rebranding is due to the University’s desire to enter the global online education market, offering its sterling academic standing across the globe and ultimately assisting in financing its annual operational budget. The shift from Open to Global will symbolise the new focus and strategic direction of the University. In advance of the rebranding, several preparations had to be made. In January 2023, the Campus Principal convened a meeting with University Marketing and Communications to discuss the process for the renaming and rebranding exercise from Open to Global.
particularly in relation to the identification of excess resources/staff.
initial cohort included 44 participants, while the second cohort comprised 49 participants. The final phase, involving the development of a self-paced training video knowledge product, is currently in progress, with The UWI Open Campus managing the recording and preparation for distribution. The total budget for the entire project is valued at US$53,500.00.
Open Campus Country Sites
Although CPE programme and course enrolment dropped by 8% when compared to the 2021/2022 performance, revenue increased by approximately 7%. One example of how this revenue increase occurred was that in Semester I 2022/2023, Open Campus Antigua and Barbuda staff registered 449 applicants into 20 CPE course offerings, generating revenue of approximately US$92,016.64. Open Campus Belize registered 169 students into 10 CPE courses which earned approximately USD$22,488.11. In addition, Open Campus Saint Lucia registered 363 students for 15 CPE courses, earning revenue in the sum of US$102,571.00. Additional income was generated by the Sites by the proctoring of examinations and renting classroom space to government and non-government institutions. The proctoring of the ACCA examinations, hosted on the behalf of The British Council, generated approximately US$40,000.00. The Open Campus Country Sites also implemented several cost cutting measures, such as the closure of two Sites in Jamaica on July 31, 2023, a reduction in security expenses and redistribution of tasks, which led to a cost reduction at the Saint Lucia Site in the amount US$70,248.63. Continuing and Professional Education Centre (CPEC) Two virtual Training of Trainer cohorts were conducted via the Caribbean Development Bank’s (CDB) Microsoft Teams platform. These sessions welcomed participants from nine member states of the CDB. The
Academic Programming and Delivery (APAD) Division
APAD Revision of the Teaching Model
At the start of academic year 2022/2023 the Open Campus revised its teaching model in Undergraduate programmes. This revision allowed the Campus to save a considerable amount of funds related to the adjunct wage bill. The financial challenges brought about, in part, by the lingering impact of COVID-19, made it imperative to re-examine The UWI Open Campus’ approach to online teaching and learning and its use of human resources and pedagogical practices in the delivery of online instruction. A review of the Campus’ resource- intensive instructional model revealed one that required more than one thousand course facilitators (i.e., course coordinators, instructors, e-tutors, group facilitators, practicum supervisors and second examiners) being contracted each semester. Examination of the research literature as well as the global higher education online learning landscape reveals that there were more sustainable, cost-effective models that could be employed without sacrificing the quality of the learner experience. Consequently, some of the revisions which were made involved: all
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